Lindley cyclist Maddie Leech is going for gold in track and road competition for England in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Maddie, 19, will be joined on the track for team England by Laura Kenny, Josie Knight, Sophie Lewis and Grace Lister. She will compete at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London on Friday July 29 to Monday August 1 and then in a road race in and around Warwick on August 8.
To get ready for the Commonwealth Games Maddie has competed for Team GB in the U23 European Track Champs in Anadia, Portugal.
She also took part in the CiCLE Classic in Melton Mowbray, which is part of the Women’s Road Series finishing 2nd. She rode for team Cams Basso.
Maddie’s mum Joanna said: “We are so proud of her. Maddie has worked so hard to get to this point and for us to be able to go and watch her perform at a home Commonwealth Games is just a dream come true.
“It’s a huge stage she is going on to now but I think she feels ready to go to that next level and really take on those very top cyclists. Team GB and the England coaches have just been amazing with her and I can’t wait to see her do what she does best and we’ll be with her all the way.”
Maddie became interested in cycling aged 13 watching the 2016 Olympics on TV. She told her family she wanted to give the sport a try.
She joined Huddersfield Star Wheelers and enrolled in British Cycling’s Go Ride scheme, a development programme for young riders.
Maddie did well at school and continued with her studies, taking sports science at Huddersfield New College. Last year Maddie was selected for the GB Cycling Team Senior Academy in Manchester and is now a full-time athlete.
Joanna added: “It’s a fantastic story for her because she’s done this all by herself, she’s worked hard and done the hard miles. Whenever she’s had a knock back she’s come right back and focused on the next step. We honestly couldn’t be more proud if we tried.”
You can watch Maddie in action on the BBC as both the track and road races are expected to be shown.
